World No. 1 Iga Swiatek completed a sweep of the clay-court WTA 1000s with a dominant title run in Rome, further asserting her dominance on the surface ahead of Roland Garros. After winning the Madrid title with the loss of two sets, the impenetrable Pole won all 12 sets she played in Italy.
Swiatek has now won four of the six WTA 1000s played so far this season after completing the Madrid-Rome double for the first time in her career. She is a three-time champion in Rome (also 2021-22), but had never won Madrid before this season.
At Roland Garros, Swiatek will bid to match Serena Williams' 2013 clay triple crown across the three prestigious events. The year's second Grand Slam—at which the Pole is a two-time defending champion and a three-time winner overall—begins on Sunday, May 26, in Paris.
Outstanding from the start at the Foro Italico, Swiatek saved the best for last, beating reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff and US Open runner-up Aryna Sabalenka in the final two rounds. She got past Gauff, 6-4, 6-3, in the semis before a 6-2, 6-3 win against Sabalenka in a rematch of the Madrid final. In those meetings with the WTA No. 3 and No. 2, respectively, Swiatek lost serve just once.
"Here I just felt like I can go with it and really use my powers," Swiatek said on the WTA Insider Podcast, comparing Rome to the quicker clay conditions in Madrid. "I'm just really proud of that."
Despite the straightforward scorelines, Swiatek's Rome run included plenty of pressure moments. But the Pole stared down each one with aplomb. Against Madison Keys in the quarterfinals, she saved all 10 break points against her in a 6-1, 6-3 win. Against Sabalenka, she denied all seven of her opponent's break opportunities.
After losing to Swiatek in Madrid and Rome, Sabalenka is hoping for another rematch in Paris: "I hope we're going to make it to the final of Roland Garros and I'll get you there," she said with a laugh during the trophy ceremony.
Swiatek replied with a smile during her own speech: "We'll see about that Roland Garros final."
In her three Paris title runs (2020, 2022-23), Swiatek has lost just two sets: one to Karolina Muchova in the 2023 final and one to Zheng Qinwen in the 2022 fourth round. With a 25-1 Roland Garros record across the past four editions of the major, she will enter the 2024 event as a strong favorite. Brimming with confidence, she does not shy away from her status at the player to beat.
"Well, I’m No. 1 so I’m the favorite everywhere if you look at rankings," she told the press. "But rankings don’t play, so ... I’ll do everything step by step and we’ll see.”
